If you want to write a song, there are certain structures to follow. Unless you decide to break them all and create something brilliant like Ed Sheeran does…
If you want to produce a popular television show, be mindful of scale, number of characters, and the limitations of the small screen. Unless you want to produce Game of Thrones, the most successful television show in the world.
If you want to sell books, do it the way it’s been working for at least 200 years. Unless you want to create something like Amazon.com.
If you’re going to compose an opera, you have to do it keeping in mind the limitations of the human voice. Unless you’re Wagner, and want to make something that will still be inspiring people centuries later.
If you want to succeed in the male-dominated world of business, you have to play by their rules. Unless you decide to play by your own rules, like Barbara Corcoran, Arianna Huffington, or Oprah.
If you want to write timeless love songs, then follow society’s accepted practices about gender, sexuality and roles. Unless you’re want to do something magnificent like Sam Smith.
If you want to succeed in comedy, keep it safe, clean and politically correct. Unless you want to change the game, like Joan Rivers, Lenny Bruce, or George Carlin.
If you want to create a fantasy blockbuster, make sure to ground it in a believable reality. Unless you want to produce something epic like Harry Potter, DUNE, or Interstellar.
If you’re going to manufacture a utilitarian product like a telephone, stick to the basic functionality. Unless you want to create the iPhone.
When it comes to rules, here’s the only one that counts:
Know the rules, and be willing to break the rules – as long as you know why you’re breaking them.
– RG
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13 Replies to “Break the Rules”
Love it, and you…
Start with WHY – and creative imagination. Excellent post Sir Randy. makes me think about utilizing my “right-brain” more!
Those people-of-greatness you mentioned are all “artists” as are you. Artists are right brain THINKERS of the thought.
Artists FEEL the desired outcome.
Exquisite. ♥
Another great post, Randy!
Breaking free of the rules that we have allowed to become self imposed are the most important ones to break.
As Always, Here’s to Your LIfetoSuccess,
God Bless You,
John Clark, http://www.lifetosuccess.com
I agree. But in the end you have to have a good idea to break the rules. If you don’t … you can’t have huge success.
BobBurg Mad love…
malejagonzam Thanks
James_Carian Thanks
You’re welcome Randy_Gage
I think you can completely ignore the rules if you believe in your product to change the world. Thanks for the post.
I’m an electronic musician. I am 33 and I know the music business is fairly youth oriented, so I figured I would focus on the quality of my work, and find ways to tell stories or generate moods with my music. See if it is possible to succeed by being good at something.Â
One idea I am throwing out is writing music to accompany a story or a series of stories.Â
I also am working on exploring the possibility of making synthesizers and digital audio workstations easier to use.
Thanks for this awesome article, Randy. We are doing something similar in Fortunehub. We don’t just churn out self-produced content as most websites do, we also feature some of the most compelling articles in the world, including yours. Cheers! 🙂
Our creativity is often curtailed by the compulsion to follow the rules to the dot. Rules are not written in stone.